"Nursing allows me to positively impact my patients, as well as their families during life threatening illness or injury. I am able to provide the necessary treatments to the patients but I also recognize the importance of supporting the emotional and spiritual needs of their families although outcomes are not always positive, the ones that are make my choice of this profession a rewarding and fulfilling one."

Colleen, RN

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The medical flight crew consists of 2 flight nurses or a flight nurse and flight paramedic trained in aeromedical patient transport who possess specialized skills (intubation, surgical airway, needle thoracentesis, pericardiocentesis, transtracheal jet ventilation) for critical patients care. All flight nurses/paramedics should have a minimum of 3-4 years of critical care experience with currency in the following certifications:

• Trauma Nurse Specialist or Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum
• Prehospital Registered Nurse Certification
• Basic Trauma Life Support or Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course
• Neonatal Resuscitation Provider

Many maintain national certifications such as Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN), or Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) or Nationally Certified Flight Paramedic (FP-C) in addition to the required certifications. Specialty teams are utilized for maternal (high risk obstetric) and neonatal (high risk premature infant) services. All members are actively involved in prehospital, hospital and regional staff education.

Life Flight provides teams for critical care ground transport of patients as well. We will aid in arranging ambulance transportation with Flight RN support if indicated.